Strapwork Grotesque with Mythological Scene
Classification
ornament
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. John I. Kane
Accession Number
1944-83-7-1
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Pieter van der Heyden a Flemish engraver active Antwerp during the Northern Renaissance (1530–1572), created *Strapwork Grotes with Mythological Scene* 1566. This work exemplifies the era's fascination with intricate decorative motifs, blending fantasy and classical revival. Van der Heyden renowned for his detailed engravings, often designs by masters like Hieronymus and Pieter Bruegel Elder, infusing them with his own whimsical style. The title reveals key elements: "strapwork" refers to elaborate, interlaced patterns mimicking leather straps or scrolls, a hallmark of 16th-century Mannerist ...